Vodafone Australian Safari race report - Day 6

Holden Jackaroo driver Bruce Garland and KTM rider Andrew Caldecott
today consolidated their positions as favourites to win the major
honours in the Vodafone Australian Safari international cross country
rally in the Northern Territory.
Japanese...

Holden Jackaroo driver Bruce Garland and KTM rider Andrew Caldecott
today consolidated their positions as favourites to win the major
honours in the Vodafone Australian Safari international cross country
rally in the Northern Territory.

Japanese rider Takuya Suzuki was an early casualty in the 155km
compedtitive stage from Top Springs to Katherine, suffering chest
injuries after crashing his Suzuki DR250. The 35-year-old from Tokyo was
rushed to Katherine Hospital by ambulance, but was later discharged
after x-rays revealed no broken bones.

Garland won the Auto Division class on the sixth day of the Safari, and
the 42-year-old extended his outright lead to 39-mins and 17-secs over
fellow-NSW driver Terry Denham in a Mitsubishi Pajero.

"We had two punctures so we had to drive flat-out to make up the time we
lost," said Garland. "I think we should be able to knock it back,
speed-wise, from here and protect our lead to the finish."

Queensland's Peter Lockhart moved up from fourth to third in a Holden
Jackaroo. The Gold Coast driver is making his 16th successive Safari
start since the event began in 1985 and is on target for his first
outright top-three podium finish. Victorian Des Harrington, who had been
third after day five, slipped to fourth after a delay to repair a broken
engine mount on his Nissan Patrol Ute.

"We've had a very clean run so far and if we can keep it that way
there's no reason why we can't be on the podium, which would be a
terrific result," said Lockhart.

NSW's Robert Gambino, driving a Suzuki Grand Vitara, lost his top 10
position because of front suspension failure.

Caldecott, who has led the Moto Division since the start, took the
honours in today's stage and increased his lead to 1-hr 56-mins 33-secs
on a KTM 660 Rallye. American Casey McCoy retained second position on a
Honda XR400, followed by South Australian Tony Tervoert on a Husqvarna.

British rider Steve Blackney dropped from fifth to seventh after his KTM
was slowed by an oil leak.

"The head gasket blew toward the end of the first section," said
Blackney. "After two steep, rocky climbs I saw steam and thought it
might have been water, but it was oil smoke. I managed to limp the bike
back to the finish on borrowed oil - we must have gone through
10-litres. We're now out of contention so that's disappointing."

Former 500cc world champion Kevin Schwantz was slowed by a puncture for
the second successive day.

"I'm getting better at these tyre changes - yesterday it was the back
and today it's the front," said Schwantz. "I guess it cost me about
30-mins, and I lost more time when I went about 2km the wrong way and
had to turn around and go back."

The Safari continues tomorrow with a 155km competitive stage tomorrow
from Katherine to Darwin. The event will finish at Mindil Beach in
Darwin on Sunday.